ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

The Pastors of the five parishes of Cluster 63 in Delaware County announce that Cardinal Justin Rigali has accepted the major recommendations of the Cluster 63 Steering Committee.

The Pastors include:
Rev. Peter Quinn, Saint Alice Parish in Upper Darby;
Rev. Joseph Corley, Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Darby;
Rev. Edward Kearns, Saint Cyril of Alexandria Parish in East Lansdowne;
Rev. Msgr. David Benz, Saint Philomena Parish in Lansdowne and
Rev. Steven Harris, Saint Louis Parish in Yeadon.

Since 2002, the five parishes in Cluster 63 have been studying the schools in the Cluster (Saint Louis Parish School closed in 1995 but the Parish has been part of the study process). This examination initially took place informally at the Cluster meetings. In December 2004, the Pastors with schools requested permission from Cardinal Rigali to conduct a formal self-study of the Cluster 63 elementary schools. From January 2005 to December 2005, a study was conducted. Demographics, enrollment figures (past, present and future) and finances were studied as was the ability of each school to meet the standards of a quality Catholic education.

While there had been discussion of forming a regional Catholic school, in the end, no consensus could be found. Each parish then offered its own recommendation to Cardinal Rigali.

Saint Alice Parish School, Upper Darby - Rev. Peter Quinn, Pastor
Father Peter Quinn informed parishioners and school families that Cardinal Rigali accepted the parish recommendation to close Saint Alice Parish School at the end of the current school year due to low enrollment, the limited finances of the parish and increasing costs. In a letter to school families, Father Quinn also expressed his gratitude for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for their many years of service to the school. Enrollment has decreased from 231 in the 1999-2000 school year to 166 students in the 2005-2006 school year.

Saint Alice Parish has received extensive financial support from the Archdiocese during recent years and does not have the financial resources to continue the school. Tuition does not cover the costs of educating the students and the parish has had to heavily subsidize the school budget.

The majority of surveys returned by Saint Alice Parish School families indicated that parents were favoring St. Laurence Parish School in Highland Park for their children to attend next year. This would help to maintain the Saint Alice Parish identity for the children and would enable the Pastor, Father Quinn, to provide pastoral and spiritual care for the parish children. Saint Laurence Parish School is approximately 1.5 miles away from St. Alice Parish. Saint Laurence Parish School plans to hold an Open House in the very near future.

Saint Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments is currently located on the campus of Saint Alice School. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Catholic Education is making separate arrangements for the 25 students who attend Saint Lucy Day School. They will remain together at Holy Innocents Area Catholic School in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia.

B.V.M. Parish School, Darby - Rev. Joseph Corley, Pastor
Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School in Darby will remain open as a parish elementary school.

St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish School, East Lansdowne - Rev. Edward Kearns, Pastor
Saint Cyril of Alexandria Parish has embarked upon a financial campaign to raise $200,000 by March 31, 2006. Any decision to reopen the school in September 2006 will depend upon enrollment and parish income. The school’s future will continue to be studied.

St. Philomena Parish School, Lansdowne – Rev. Msgr. David Benz, Pastor
Saint Philomena School will remain open as a parish elementary school.

Current Enrollments for Cluster 63:

For more information please contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Office for Communications at 215-587-3747